Changes

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Funebre-indictment-about-the-world-of-man.jpg|right|frame]]

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Funebre-indictment-about-the-world-of-man.jpg|right|frame]]

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1:a: the [[action]] or the [[legal]] [[process]] of indicting  

*1:a: the [[action]] or the [[legal]] [[process]] of indicting  

:b : the [[state]] of being indicted

:b : the [[state]] of being indicted

2: a [[formal]] [[written]] [[statement]] framed by a prosecuting [[authority]] and found by a [[jury]] (as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Jury grand jury]) charging a [[person]] with an offense

2: a [[formal]] [[written]] [[statement]] framed by a prosecuting [[authority]] and found by a [[jury]] (as a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Jury grand jury]) charging a [[person]] with an offense

3: an [[expression]] of strong disapproval <an indictment of [[government]] policy on immigrants>  

3: an [[expression]] of strong disapproval <an indictment of [[government]] policy on immigrants>  

==Description==

==Description==

In the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_law common law] legal system, an '''indictment''' (pronounced /ɪnˈdaɪtmənt/ in-DITE-mənt) is a [[formal]] [[accusation]] that a [[person]] has committed a [[crime]]. In those [[jurisdictions]] which retain the [[concept]] of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_law felony], the serious criminal offence would be a felony; those [[jurisdictions]] which have abolished the concept of a felony often substitute the concept of an indictable offence, i.e. an offence which requires an indictment.

In the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_law common law] legal system, an '''indictment''' (pronounced /ɪnˈdaɪtmənt/ in-DITE-mənt) is a [[formal]] [[accusation]] that a [[person]] has committed a [[crime]]. In those [[jurisdictions]] which retain the [[concept]] of a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_law felony], the serious criminal offence would be a felony; those [[jurisdictions]] which have abolished the concept of a felony often substitute the concept of an indictable offence, i.e. an offence which requires an indictment.

[[Traditionally]] an indictment was handed up by a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_jury grand jury], which returned a "true bill" if it found [[cause]] to make the charge, or "no bill" if it did not find cause. Most common law jurisdictions (except for much of the United States) have abolished grand juries.

[[Traditionally]] an indictment was handed up by a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_jury grand jury], which returned a "true bill" if it found [[cause]] to make the charge, or "no bill" if it did not find cause. Most common law jurisdictions (except for much of the United States) have abolished grand juries.

==Direct indictment==

==Direct indictment==

A direct indictment is one in which the case is sent directly to [[trial]] before a preliminary [[inquiry]] is completed or when the accused has been discharged by a preliminary inquiry. It is meant to be an [[extraordinary]], rarely used [[power]] to ensure that those who should be brought to trial are in a timely [[manner]] or where an error of [[judgment]] is seen to have been made in the preliminary inquiry.

A direct indictment is one in which the case is sent directly to [[trial]] before a preliminary [[inquiry]] is completed or when the accused has been discharged by a preliminary inquiry. It is meant to be an [[extraordinary]], rarely used [[power]] to ensure that those who should be brought to trial are in a timely [[manner]] or where an error of [[judgment]] is seen to have been made in the preliminary inquiry.

==Sealed indictment==

==Sealed indictment==

An indictment can be sealed so that it stays [[Private|non-public]] until it is unsealed. This can be done for a number of reasons. It may be unsealed, for example, once the named [[person]] is arrested or has been notified by [[police]].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indictment]

An indictment can be sealed so that it stays [[Private|non-public]] until it is unsealed. This can be done for a number of reasons. It may be unsealed, for example, once the named [[person]] is arrested or has been notified by [[police]].[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indictment]

[[Category: Law]]

[[Category: Law]]